Wagner College’s men’s and women’s basketball teams will welcome in the new season with their Madness Before Midnight celebration Friday at Spiro Center.

WHEN Friday, 5:45 p.m. ADMISSION Free, but canned food donations for Wagner’s 25 Tons of Food Challenge will be gladly accepted. Attendance is limited to the first 2,000 fans. The first 500 fans will receive a free t-shirt with one lucky fan winning an iPod and another an iPad. FESTIVITIES Josh Thompson will defend his slam dunk crown. Last year’s winning dunk — in which Thompson leaped over his mother — was an ESPN SportsCenter favorite. Laura Amorosa will have a new partner — Jay Harris — as she tries to repeat as 3-point shootout champ. Head coaches Bashir Mason and Lisa Cermignano will tell the fans about their teams and WFAN 660 AM’s John Jastremski will emcee. SEASON OPENERS Wagner women host Army to open the season on Nov. 9. The Seahawk men start their campaign with four road games — the first at Delaware State on Nov. 14 — before their home opener Nov. 28 against Princeton. 